Why do cats insist on?

Question

Squeezing themselves into teeny tiny places that are inconvenient? My cat is squashed into an empty shoebox, looking very smug. Why won't she curl up in the furry little pyramid cat house I bought especially for her? She won't even go into that! They always like cheap nasty boxes for some reason. It's madness!

Answer 1

They feel nervous in expensive boxes.

Answer 2

Your moggy will use anywhere it feels safest. In the summer my male pet cat Boddington sleeps in the hand basin in the bathroom where it's coolest and in the Winter on top of a wardrobe in a big cardboard box. I cut a hole in the side for him to gain access and put an old duvet inside for comfort. I left the box alone for a while and just let him get on with it. The box now sounds like a huge echo chamber when he's snoring for Britain.

Answer 3

Cats like being snug and cosy, so put the box into the pyramid house and see if she likes it better. Perhaps the pyramid smells too much of factory. You could encourage her to use it by putting one of your sweaters in it so it smells nicer, or perhaps her favourite blanket? And play with the cat using a piece of string and pull it through the house and try to get her to follow it. That way she can lose her apprehension of this.

Answer 4

This cat of yours is just like me. I also adore shoeboxes. You say they are inconvenient... well, this is a human judgement... I personally (catally, I should say..) feel very nice when squeezed in tiny places because this gives me a sense of security, that I am in this place and there in no place for anybody else in here. Feeling like "wearing" my home, gives me a sense of warmth and security. Please, do not judge us, cats, with human measures..... Believe me, a cat knows better than anybody else what she likes, where to find it and how to make it his.
That's why you, people, love us that much.
We love you too

Mr.Linus, the cat.

Answer 5

They are just like young children if you give child something in a big box quite often they enjoy the box more than the gift itself. My cats prefer rolled up paper balls than any toy they have. I've learned I don't buy all the thrills that cot so much. hey a box is easy to replace and you don't have to keep it clean.
Yes it is crazy but that's a kid whether 2 or 4 legged.

Answer 6

All cats do it, its just like when we were young with a security blanket.
Over the next few days move it closer too the cat house before putting it inside for a couple of days then take it out.
failing that buy some cat nip and dust the house, your cat will go mad attacking it, that way she will get there sent on it.

Answer 7

LOL aawww, cute. My cat does the same!! I bought a soft, warm snuggly basket just for her and she never sleeps in it! Instead, she curls up in empty cardboard shoeboxes and in my drawers. Cats like to squeeze themselves into tiny places because they feel safe and comfortable there because there is something touching (in their minds, 'holding') them from every angle. They feel secure there and they feel like it's their territory only because there is no room for anybody else.

Answer 8

Lol cats make me laugh. They like to show off with things like that. Plus not only that its marking their terriotory.

My next door neighbours cat is a perfect example of this. She only goes home to eat. She spends the rest of the time in the back garden sat underneath our apple tree. She lets us go near her but no other cat not even her own kitten is allowed underneath that tree. She always looks proud when she sits under the tree. Anyway im waffling.

Answer 9

I still have an empty Easter Egg box in my front room as my kitten adores it!! She likes to lie in it with her head sticking out of the hole in the front of it!!

Nice comfy cat bed/scratch post/super duper kitten toy gym thing will be going in the shed soon at this rate!!

Answer 10

Because they like to mess with our minds :P No really...buy her some expensive toys and then give her the ring off a milk jug to play with - bet she doesn't leave it alone for hours. They're brats, all of them...and they're so cute that we don't care, we let them wrap us around their little paw! Hehe...if you don't mind her being in the shoe box (my cat liked my clothes basket, whether it was empty or full of dirty or clean laundry, so count yourself lucky there :P) then just let her, maybe she'll get used to her boughten bed eventually, maybe she won't. I think they're a bit like contrary children to be honest :D

Answer 11

Same with kids... You spend a fortune on a toy and they spend ages playing with the box instead.
Just love your cat the way she is, she's not gonna change.